Effect of fermented feed on shedding of Enterobacteriaceae by fattening pigs.

Epidemiological studies showed that the use of fermented feed could significantly reduce Salmonella prevalence in pigs compared to the use of normal feed. Experimental challenge experiments with Salmonella have however never been conducted to reveal the efficacy of fermented feed in reducing Salmonella shedding and/or reducing the number of Salmonella-positive pigs. A longitudinal study was conducted to measure the effect of fermented feed, in particular of its components lactic acid and Lactobacillus plantarum, on gastrointestinal bacterial ecology (Salmonella, Enterobacteriaceae, lactobacilli, volatile fatty acids (VFAs), pH).